Pakistan grants India consular access to 'spy' on death row

Afp, New Delhi
Islamabad has agreed to allow Indian diplomats to visit one of their nationals on death row on charges of being a spy, Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran said yesterday.

Pakistan has accused Sarabjit Singh of being an Indian spy who carried out four bomb attacks, but his family says he is a farmer who crossed the border 15 years ago while he was drunk.

"We have come to know that they (Pakistan) have granted consular access to Sarabjit Singh," Saran said about the prisoner who was handed the death sentence by Pakistan's Supreme Court on August 18.

India earlier this week sought consular access to Singh after his family threatened to commit mass suicide if Pakistan executes him.

Saran said the question of prisoners held in both countries' jails would be discussed when he visits Pakistan next week.